Ditching-machine



2 Sheets-Sheet ii 0. DOOLITTLE & N. ELDRIDGE.

Ditching Machine. No. 31,376. Patented Feb. 12, 1861.

' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. 0. DOOLITTLE &. N. ELDRIDGE.

Ditching Machine.

No. 31,376. I Patented Feb. 12, 1861.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

O. DOOLITTLE AND N. ELDRIDGE, OF DANSVILLE, NETV YORK.

DITGHING-MAGHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 31,376, dated February 12, 1861.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, OSCAR DOOLI'ITLE.

and NIRAM ELDRIDGE, of Dansville, Steuben county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ditching-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a ditcher embracing our improvements. Fig. 2 represents a rear elevation. Fig. 3 a plan of the same, and Fig. 4t a perspective view taken from the underside of the scoop and plow.

The object of our invention is to facilitate the excavating, and the gathering of the a a pulley (64) having its bearings earth into the scoop, and discharging it on the side of the ditch; and also to produce by means of the scoop, a uniformly graded ditch on the bottom. And our invention for effecting these objects consists first, in so arranging a carrying band connected with a movable scoop at one end and a fixed pulley at the other that it will accommodate itself without being lengthened or shortened, to the different positions of the scoop as it is raised or lowered; second, in combining with the carrying band a vibrating spout, for the purpose of receiving the earth from the band; third, in arranging in line with the track of the wheels of the carriage, a leveling plow for the purpose of removing the inequalities of the surface of the ground and forming a uniformly graded track for the wheels in order that the scoop may uniformly grade the bottom of the ditch.

In the accompanying drawings is represented, a ditching machine embracing our improvements, which consists of a four wheel carriage (A) to support the different parts of the machine. The rear wheels (B) are fixed to the rear axle (O) in order to give motion to the different parts of the machine. At the forward end of the carriage is a frame (D) and within this is an mterior sliding frame which is suspended from in the outer frame.

To the lower end of the sliding frame is attached an inclined frame (F,) which carries a scoop (G) consisting of three metallic plates to form the sides and bottom. The

bottom of the scoop stands at the same inclination as the frame. In front of the scoop are arranged a series of cutters (a) and plows (b)-the cutters (a) are for the purpose of marking out and cutting the sides of the ditch; and in line with these cutters are placed the plows (b) with the moldboard (c) on the inside, so as to throw the furrow turned by them, from the sides toward the center, that it may be more readily gathered by the scoop. On the underside and at the rear end of the scoop, is a roller (6) around which a carrying band for the earth passes, and extends backward passing over a pulley (I) having its hearings in the rear frame. prevent the earth from sliding backward. Two arms extend from this sliding frame to the carrying band, and resting on these arms on the under side of the band is a roller which is so arranged as to raise the band, and take up the slack, when the scoop is at its full height and to lower with the sliding frame and let out the band as the scoop is lowered.

A spout (J) is arranged at the rear end of the machine, to receive the earth from the band, and discharge it outside of the wheels. This spout is pivoted on one side to the. frame (K) and the other sideis arranged so that it may be lowered in order to give a shaking motion to the spout, to facilitate the discharge of the earth. These vibrations are given to the spout by means of a lever (h) pivoted to the frame, and operated by means of a crank 011 the end of the upper band pulley, which raises one end of the spout and allows it to fall, and thus produces a quick vibration of the spout.

A discharging wheel (L) with arms is placed across the top and within the scoop in order to assist in carrying the earth backward in the scoop and delivering it on the band. This wheel receives its motion from a pulley (Z) attached to the rear axle from which passes a band (m) to a pulley (a) on the end of the discharging wheel shaft.

Between the front and hind wheels of the carriage, and in line with them, and at the level of their tread, is arranged a double mold board plow (N) in order to remove the sharp undulations of the surface of the soil, and form a graded track for the wheels as the machine passes and repasses along the line of the ditch, so that an evenly graded surface will be formed in the bottom of the ditch by the scoop.

The scoop is raised and lowered by means of a toothed wheel (0) gearing into a pinion (p) on the end of a shaft, to which the strap supporting the sliding frame is attached. It will be seen from the scoop being supported by the sliding frame at two points, it always stands at the same inclination, both at the commencement and at the end of excavating the ditch, and works as Well at the'bottom of the ditch as it does at the commencement.

Motion is communicated to the carrying band by means of a toothed wheel (7) on the rear axle, which gears into a pinion (s) on the shaft of the upper pulley of the band, and this shaft by means of the crank (2 raises the trough.

We do not confine ourselves to the precise construction, form and arrangement of the parts as described as they may be varied by any good mechanic without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having thus described our improvements in ditching machines, what we claim therein as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Supporting the carrying bands at an intermediate point, from the sliding frame substantially as described so that the band may be extended or contracted as the scoop is raised or lowered.

2. The combination of a carrying band with a receiving and delivering spout, and a mechanism for giving the spout a positive vibratory motion, arranged substantially as described for the purpose set forth.

3., The combination of a ditching scoop with grading plows arranged between the wheels in order to remove the uneven surface of the ground in line with the track of the wheels, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we have subscribed our names.

- OSCAR DOOLITTLE.

NIRAM ELDRIDGE.

Witnesses:

TIMOTHY WALLACE, DAVID N. WALLACE. 

